‘Act more PRESIDENTIAL’ Junker told to GROW UP after ‘trying to get David Davis SACKED’

A SENIOR Tory has warned that negotiations with the EU could be “impossible” amid allegations that Jean-Claude Juncker tried to have Brexit Secretary David Davis sacked.

Mr Juncker’s spokesman refused to deny allegations made by Mr Davis that the European Commission President had tried to have him removed.

The row follows a leak of an account of a dinner Mr Juncker had with Theresa May in Downing Street to a German newspaper apparently aimed at attacking Britain.

The leak has been described by Mr Juncker as “a serious mistake” but he denied responsibility for it.

However, Mr Davis has now claimed that it was part of a ploy to get him the sack.

He said: “I think to be honest he [Juncker] has now learned his lesson – he is not going to be meddling in British politics anymore or at least if he does he will get the same reaction.”

He added: “All these stories are briefing against me, trying to get me sacked – which, of course, is a compliment by the way.

“If they don’t want me across the table, there is a reason for that – it is in Britain’s interests, not theirs.”

The aggressive actions by Brussels saw the Prime Minister make a dramatic statement in Downing Street claiming that senior Brussels figures want the Brexit talks to fail and are trying to influence the outcome of the General Election and meddle in British politics.

It comes as the EU has upped its exit fee demands to an eye watering £85 billion which the Government has made clear it will not pay.

And earlier this week former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis, who had to negotiate a bailout for his country when it was on the point defaulting with its debts, said that the Brussels strategy follows a familiar pattern.

He said the Commission set out to “crush” Greece and would try the same with Britain.

And a senior Tory MP said that the attempt to sack Mr Davis had left a question mark over the Brexit talks.

Daniel Kawczynski, who was on the Commons foreign affairs committee until the election campaign began, said: “This is another outrageous attack by the Commission and another unacceptable example of interference in British democracy.

“The Prime Minister was right to stand up to these Brussels bullies led by Jean Claude Juncker.”

He went on: “We should not be surprised by this approach after the recent revelations by Yanis Varoufakis about how the Commission set out to ‘crush’ Greece in its bailout discussions.

“But they are dealing with Britain now, the fifth largest economy in the world, not a bankrupt Greece.

“If the Commission does not start acting in a more reasonable, constructive manner it will be almost impossible to hold Brexit discussions and there will be no final deal which will harm the EU far more than it will hurt Britain.”

Richard Tice, co-chairman of Leave Means Leave said: “The arrogance of Jean Claude Juncker is quite staggering.

“Despite the British people voting to end EU interference in Britain’s affairs, this unelected bureaucrat still insists on meddling in our business.

“David Davis is doing a great job as Brexit Secretary and it is clear that this frightens the Brussels negotiating team.

“Rather than behaving like a schoolchild gossiping in the playground, Mr Juncker should grow up and start acting a little more ‘Presidential’.”

Margaritis Schinas, Mr Juncker’s spokesman, declined to comment directly on Mr Davis’s claims when asked about them during a European Commission press briefing.

He said: “We don’t have much to say on that.

“We know there is a campaign in the United Kingdom. We had a chance to discuss this a few days ago.

“We have no comment on and no interest in the composition of any government in member states. This is not our job.

“The only thing we’d like to see is once the new government takes place, a good negotiator – as good as Michel Barnier – so we can start the job.”

Margaritis Schinas, Mr Juncker’s spokesman, declined to comment directly on Mr Davis’s claims when asked about them during a European Commission press briefing.

He said: “We don’t have much to say on that.

“We know there is a campaign in the United Kingdom. We had a chance to discuss this a few days ago.

“We have no comment on and no interest in the composition of any government in member states. This is not our job.

“The only thing we’d like to see is once the new government takes place, a good negotiator – as good as Michel Barnier – so we can start the job.”

May 13th, 2017: Express